Senator David Carlucci Presented Singer Grace VanderWaal With NYS Senate Women of Distinction Honor

(Albany, NY) – Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) presented award-winning singer and Rockland's own, Grace VanderWaal with the NYS Senate Women of Distinction honor at the annual ceremony in Albany today. Every year, the New York State Senate honors a select group of exemplary women whose contributions have greatly enriched the quality of life in their communities and beyond.

Senator Carlucci nominated VanderWaal for the honor from the 38th Senate District. VanderWaal skyrocketed to stardom at 12-years-old after she won NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2016. She then used her winnings and success to work with Senator Carlucci to form The Little Miracles Show Choir in the East Ramapo Central School District. The show choir encourages young students to learn how to play instruments, dance and sing. To further music education, VanderWaal is also providing two college scholarships yearly to students in the East Ramapo Central School District.

“Grace is extremely generous, gracious, and humble,” said Senator David Carlucci. “After she won America’s Got Talent, she came to me asking how she could help the next generation of talented students, while promoting music education in schools where it was absent. We worked together to fund the Little Miracles Show Choir, and thanks to her donation of ukuleles and equipment, students in East Ramapo were given the opportunity to follow in her footsteps. Grace still comes back to the school district to work with The Little Miracles and to perform with them. She is truly giving of her time and talents, and we are proud in Rockland of all she has accomplished.”

VanderWaal grew up in Suffern and began singing original songs at just 3-years-old.  At 11, she purchased a ukulele and taught herself to play by watching YouTube. As a creative outlet for her original songs and covers, she started her own YouTube channel and performed at open mics.

At 12-years-old, VanderWaal received the Golden Buzzer on NBC’s America’s Got Talent (AGT), advancing directly to the live shows.  In September of 2016, she won AGT’s Million-Dollar prize by singing her original songs accompanied by her ukulele. 

In December of 2016, VanderWaal released her first EP, Perfectly Imperfect. She has performed at Madison Square Garden, the Special Olympics World Winter Games, benefit concerts, music festivals and talk shows. She won the 2017 Radio Disney Music Award for Best New Artist, a Teen Choice Award, a Billboard Music Award, and a MTV Europe Music Award. Billboard Magazine named VanderWaal to its 21 Under 21 list of "music's hottest young stars" for three consecutive years, and she was the youngest person ever included in Forbes' 30 Under 30 Music List.

Despite VanderWaal’s early success, she has never forgotten the importance of giving back. VanderWaal hopes to expand the “Little Miracles” and her college scholarship program to other school districts to ensure the gift of music for all.